Sorrento, Positano & Amalfi Day Trip from Naples

Sorrento, the Gateway to the Amalfi Coast

Sorrento sits on tall tuff cliffs above the Bay of Naples, facing Mount Vesuvius across the water. Its old centre is a grid of lanes around Piazza Tasso, full of shops selling inlaid woodwork, ceramics and lemon-scented soaps, and lemon groves still climb the terraces around the town, producing the protected Sorrento lemon.

During about an hour of free time you can walk to the Villa Comunale gardens for the view over the harbour, look down into the ancient mill valley, the Vallone dei Mulini, or wander to the cathedral. A Sorrento day trip from Naples is often the first taste of the coast, and it sets the scene for the drive ahead.

The Amalfi Drive

The coastal road between Positano and Vietri sul Mare, built in the 19th century and known as the Amalfitana, clings to the cliffs above the sea with endless curves, tunnels and tiny bridges. The Amalfi Coast was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997 for its terraced lemon groves, fishing villages and dramatic landscape.

Driving it yourself is famously stressful, with narrow lanes and buses squeezing past each other, which is why an Amalfi Coast tour from Naples with a professional driver is the easiest option. Our vehicle stops at panoramic viewpoints, including the classic view of Positano tumbling down to the sea, so you can take photos without rushing.

Positano, the Vertical Village

Positano's pastel houses cascade down a steep ravine to a dark-sand beach, the Spiaggia Grande, overlooked by the majolica-tiled dome of the Church of Santa Maria Assunta. Once a poor fishing village, it became famous in the 1950s when writers and artists discovered it, and it is now one of the most photographed places in Italy.

Is Positano worth visiting on a day trip? Absolutely, but wear comfortable shoes, as the village is almost all steps and slopes. In your free time you can walk down past boutiques selling linen clothes and sandals to the beach, then climb back up to the meeting point. In summer it is busy, so arrive at the beach early in your break.

Amalfi, the Old Maritime Republic

Amalfi was one of Italy's four medieval maritime republics, trading across the Mediterranean from the 9th century and giving the world an early code of sea law. Its heart is the Cathedral of St Andrew, reached by a grand flight of steps, with a striped Arab-Norman facade and the peaceful Cloister of Paradise beside it.

Amalfi has the longest stop of the day, about an hour and a half, including lunch on the default option. The town is also famous for handmade paper, still produced in the valley above. From the harbour you can take an optional boat ride along the coast, included only on the option that lists it; otherwise it can be bought locally, subject to availability.